Treasures

Treasures

At home in Bergamo,

with stuffed zucchini and Carmen’s quiche

of prosciutto and provolone in the oven,

we gather in the next room

to touch the varnished maple chest

from our grandfathers’ peasant village.

Pasquale shows the ornate lock and key,

fashioned a hundred years ago, or two,

guarding a jewelled clip for bisnonna’s hair,

a handful of sepia photos, a watch with a broken face

on a golden chain, the smell of old wood,

the songs of the sea.